Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012

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Alumni Newsletter UVA BLSA 2012-2013

Letter from the President Greetings Lawhoos!

My name is Amanda Turner and I am pleased to serve as BLSA President for the 2012-2013 school year. I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting some of you, but I look forward to the opportunity to do so over the next year.

Stay Connected with UVA BLSA We are excited to announce the re-launch of our website at www.uvablsa.org. There you can read more about BLSA news, learn about events at the law school, and connect with our Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, YouTube, and LinkedIn pages.

Through our LinkedIn page you may network with alumni and current students. Please use our resources and stay connected with UVA BLSA!

Save the Date!

Alumni Dinner Fall 2012 A chance to return to Charlottesville and dine with BLSA members!

Black Alumni Weekend April 6, 2013 Return to Charlottesville to reconnect with former classmates and current students during an amazing weekend!

As a rising 2L it is easy to see that BLSA’s dynamic alumni are our most valuable resource. We look to you for academic and professional advice and we learn from your enthusiasm about BLSA and your genuine interest in helping us succeed that UVA Law’s spirit of collegiality extends far beyond our three years on Grounds.

This newsletter is one of several methods we will use next year to keep you informed and involved in our future programming. We plan to send one newsletter each semester.

Please enjoy reviewing our summer issue and do not hesitate to send me suggestions.

Amanda Turner BLSA President

BLSA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2012

The Year in Review 2011-2012 was a very positive year and we look forward to building on our success in 2012-2013!

1L Outreach

The 2011-2012 policy council put on a multitude of events to mentor the 1L Class of 2014. The policy council put on career panels, diversity receptions, provided study tips, and provided guidance that put the 1Ls on the path to success in their first year.

Professor Benjamin A. Spencer Professor Benjamin A. Spencer was a visiting professor from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He quickly integrated himself into the BLSA and UVA community and his advice was beneficial to many BLSA members.

MLK Appreciation Day The University of Virginia held a discussion in honor of Dr. King featuring Julian Bond and Michael Cody (’61) centering on Dr. King’s legacy. Prior to the discussion BLSA members and other UVA students took part in a candlelight vigil featuring the reading of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech.”

Diversity Receptions BLSA continued its tradition of holding diversity receptions with firms throughout the school year.

BLSA also hosted a public service reception in order to introduce students to different job opportunities in the public sector. Chris Hunt (’13) and Jasmine Wade (’13) did a fine job putting on these events and the policy council of 2012-2013 looks forward to building on these achievements next year.

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BLSA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2012

BLSA: More than an Organization A message from Terell Simpson (’14) Alumni Relations Chair BLSA became one of the leading student organizations at UVA because of the exceptional efforts of the previous policy councils. I am excited to extend this admirable tradition by collaborating with our remarkable alumni. My goals for the upcoming academic year are to maximize participation in the upcoming alumni reunion weekend which takes place during the weekend of April 6, 2013, expand and improve the existing mentor/mentee program through increased interaction between participants, and increase involvement amongst alumni in the private and public service career fairs.

Policy Council President: Vice President: Treasurer: Secretary: Admissions: Alumni Relations: Career Services: Community Service: Education: Firm Relations: Issues & Concerns: Historian: Social: 3

2012-2013 Amanda Turner Sean Suber Elena Dillard Andrew Person Amanda Oakes Terell Simpson Amorya Orr Andrea Canfield Layi Ali-Ajibode Aaron Gober-Sims Angela Brunt Kiara Williams Emmanuel Brown

BLSA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2012

The Year in Review Outreach with Diverse Organizations BLSA is strengthening its reputation as the law school’s premier student organization by making it a priority to partner with diverse organizations. This spring we hosted a dinner mixer with APALSA and we plan to partner with several other organizations next year.

Community Service BLSA remains committed to serving the Charlottesville community. Outgoing community service chair Jasmine Wade (‘13 pictured left) led BLSA’s community service week and new chair Andrea Canfield (’14) is excited to continue our tradition of community service.

Annual BLSA Awards On April 19th, 2012 BLSA held its annual awards banquet to commemorate and celebrate the achievements of students and faculty. Special thanks to Dana Weekes (’09) for giving an inspiring speech to the attendees.

MABLSA and NBLSA Participation UVA BLSA took part in the MABLSA and NBLSA conferences. Aaron Gober-Sims (’14) was elected MABLSA Parliamentarian at the 44th MABLSA Convention and one of UVA BLSA’s Mock Trial Teams reached the final round of the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition. We look forward to building on this success in the coming year!

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BLSA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2012

Lawhoo Showcase BLSA member Emerald Greywoode (’12) was a Semi-Finalist in the 83rd annual William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition during the spring semester.

Greywoode and her partner argued on behalf of the petitioner in front of the Hon. Douglas H. Ginsburg, U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C., the Hon. Ellen S. Huvelle, U.S. District Court for D.C., and the Hon. Thomas A. Varlan, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Upon graduation Greywoode will begin work at Baker Hostetler in Washington, D.C. She shares a bit of insight on her participation in the Lile Moot Court experience below.

“Moot court was a great experience that provided an opportunity to see what appellate advocacy is like. It was a lot of work, but I am glad that I participated in the competition. During oral arguments I was so grateful to have the support of BLSA members, especially the class of 2014!”

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BLSA ALUMNI LETTER

SUMMER 2012

RSVP for Alumni Weekend BLSA’s Black Alumni Weekend will be April 6, 2013. We are again hosting BLSA’s Alumni Weekend events concurrently with UVA’s Black Alumni Weekend—April 5-7, 2013—and we look forward to seeing as many alums as possible back on Grounds. If you are interested in attending, contact Terrell Simpson at alumni@uvablsa.org or Cecil Banks, Associate Director of Reunion Programs at banks@virginia.edu.

See You There!